Video Games- Helpful or Harmful?

Introduction

Are video games harmful or helpful to kids? Researchers, doctors, educators, and parents have differing opinions about this topic. 

In this WebQuest you will explore what experts say about the impact of video games on kids.  After reading various articles and watching various videos, you will write an opinion essay to argue pro or con that video games are helpful or harmful. 

Task

As a writing grade, you will read different articles and sources on Video games. Are they more helpful or harmful? You will take notes and form your opinion to argue your case.  You will then write a one-page essay that you will present to the class.

Process

Step 1: Choose whether to argue pro or con and read/watch the links in the corresponding section.  You may also read/watch all the links first and then choose your side.

PRO: Video Games are helpful to the development of kids.

Read this article about 10 reasons that video games are good for kids: https://www.gamedesigning.org/why-video-games-are-good/

Read this article about 5 reasons that video games teach problem solving skills: https://learningworksforkids.com/2012/04/5-ways-that-video-games-teach-flexibility-skills/

Watch the video in this article to see if video games can make you smarter: https://video.link/w/DLiHc

Watch this video about a research study at the University of Texas Medical Branch that demonstrated that playing video games can help people become better surgeons: 

https://video.link/w/tmRGc

 

CON: Video games are harmful to the development of kids.

Read this article that presents many strong reasons against the overuse of video games: https://www.creditdonkey.com/negative-effect-video-games.html

Read this article about the correlation between video game addiction and health issues: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/05/160509150010.htm

Read this article about the negatice effects of video games:

https://www.creditdonkey.com/negative-effect-video-games.html

Read this article about potential negative psychological effects of video games: https://www.aap.org/en-us/about-the-aap/aap-press-room/pages/Video-Gaming-Can-Lead-to-Mental-Health-Problems.aspx

Watch this video about the mental health hazards of video game addiction: